Canada Names Ted Gallivan as New Deputy Minister of Immigration

Maple News reports that on March 4, 2026, the office of Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the appointment of a new deputy minister of immigration, refugees, and citizenship, with a start date to be announced in the coming weeks. Ted Gallivan, who is currently serving as interim deputy national security and intelligence advisor to the prime minister, will assume the role and will replace Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar, who has led Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada since January 2024.\n\nDeputy ministers are senior public servants who wield substantial influence over national policy in Canada. They advise ministers on policy and operations, oversee program delivery within their departments, and coordinate with other government bodies, with reporting lines that can extend to the prime minister in some cases.\n\nGallivan brings a long federal career spanning the CRA and CBSA, including leadership roles at the Canada Border Services Agency and various senior positions within the Canada Revenue Agency. In addition to his current post as interim deputy national security and intelligence advisor to the prime minister, he has held multiple CRA and CBSA leadership roles aimed at strengthening operations, compliance, and policy delivery.\n\nThis appointment signals a focus on continuity in immigration policy leadership, leveraging Gallivan’s background in border security, program management, and compliance to oversee the department’s complex portfolio, including processing efficiency and program integrity.\n\nAnalysts note that deputy ministers provide stability across cabinet changes, guiding government mandates through multiple ministers and administrations. Maple News will monitor the transition as the government confirms a firm start date for the new deputy minister.